Ribbon conveying apparatus



Get. 4, 1966 R. J. HARRIS 3,276,709

RIBBON CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed April 50, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR ROGER J. HARRIS FIG. 2 BY M M @0A/ %1Zzj?" AGENT 1966 R. J.HARRIS RIBBON CONVEYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 50, 1964Oct. 4, 1966 R. J. HARRIS 3,276,709

RIBBON CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed April 50, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet s UnitedStates Patent 3,276,709 RIBBON CONVEYING APPARATUS Roger J. Harris, 4505Caroline Ave., Portsmouth, Va. Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 364,047 16Claims. (Cl. 24255.19)

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to an improved ribbon conveying apparatus.More particularly, the invention relates to a new and improved ribbonsupply reel capable of supplying tape to machines at a high rate ofspeed.

Ribbons, such as magnetic tapes, films or punched paper tapes used withmachines such as computers, are usually feed through a machine whichretrieves information from the tape ribbon as the ribbon passestherethrough and is coiled about the core portion of a reel in such amanner that at the end of the operation the beginning or leading end ofthe ribbon is at the innermost core of the reel. In order to reuse theribbon after it has passed through such a machine, it is necessary torewind the ribbon by unreeling it from the take-up reel onto' anothersupply reel so that the leading end of the ribbon is at the outermostedge of the supply reel. This rereeling is a laborious and timeconsuming task. There are prior art reel devices, having as their objectthe elimination of this rereeling step, which are utilized to feed aribbon from the center of a coil. These prior art devices, however, arenot able to sustain an operating condition which feeds the ribbon at asuflicient speed for modern machine-s such as electrical computers.

There is, therefore, a need for a reel supply or take-upapparatus Whichfeeds a ribbon from or takes it up at the center of a coil at a slow,intermediate, or very rapid speed without subjecting the ribbon tomutilation or tearing. It is the general purpose of this invention toprovide an improved supply reel which has advantages and capabilitiesnot available in the prior art devices. To obtain the desiredperformance, the present invention contemplates the unique and novelarrangement of components and elements to provide an improved supplyreel which is capable of being utilized with machines such as computerswhich require fast tape speeds.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelribbon supply or take-up device capable of supplying a ribbon from theinnermost end of a coil of ribbon at speeds herebefore not attainable byribbon supply devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon supplydevice which supplies ribbon from the inside of a coil in either aclockwise or counterclockwise direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon supplyreel which is portable and adaptable for utilization in the verticalposition as well as the horizontal position.

In correlation with the foregoing object, another object is to provide aribbon supply device which utilizes spools and a turntable which areindependently rotatable with respect to one another.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill 'be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a ribbonsupply device of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the illustrative embodiment of the device inFIG. 1 shown for use in unwinding a coil from the innermost end in aclockwise direction;

3,276,709 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 FIG. 3 is a plan view of theillustrative device in FIG. 1 shown for use in unwinding a coil from theinnermost end in a counterclockwise direction;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a supply reel of thepresent invention. In the illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 there is shown a portable supplyreel utilizing a base plate or support 11 which has secured to thecenter thereof a support shaft 12. The support shaft 12 may be securedto the base plate 11 in any convenient manner such as brazing, welding,or as disclosed in FIG. 4, by a screw or bolt 13. A ring member 14 issupported on the shaft 12 by bearing 15 which may be secured to theshaft 12 and the ring 14 in any suitable manner such as welding theouter race to the ring 14 and the inner race to the shaft 12. However,flanges are utilized to accomplish the attachment of the bearing 15 tothe shaft 12 and the ring 14 in the device illustrated, as is shown inFIG. 4. A spacer 16 rides atop the inner race of the bearing 15 and adisc or turntable support 17 is secured to the ring 14 by welding,brazing, or by bolts 18.

A center spool 21 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 12 and, asillustrated with respect to this embodiment, is mounted on shaft 12 bybearings 22 The center spool 21 has a circumferential flange 23 and acircular extension 24, which extension is parallel to the support shaft12 and surrounds the ring 14.

A turntable 25 is rotatably supported on the disc 17 through bearings 26and has a center circular aperture 27 which is lined with a ring 28 ofmaterial having a low coeflicient of friction. The ring 28 may besecured to the turntable 25 in various Ways, however, bolts 29 areutilized in the illustrated embodiment. A retaining wall 31 is securedto the circumference of the turntable 25 to retain the coil of ribbon onthe turntable.

An inner spool support arm 32 is secured to the upper end of the shaft12 by means of a bore 33, a spacer 34, and the piston assembly 35. Thepiston assembly 35 is comprised of a bore 51 transverse to the axis ofthe shaft 12, a piston 35 slidable in the bore 51, a spring 52 to biasthe piston 35 toward the shaft 12, apertures 53 transverse the bore 51,a bar or rod 54 connected to the piston 35 and extending through theapertures 53, a protrusion 55 on the piston 35, and at least twocoplanar bores 56 in the shaft 12. The piston 35 may be moved manuallyby the extensions 54 so that the arm 32 may be rotated about the shaft12. The extension 55 on the piston 35 is then inserted into any bore 56in the shaft 12 to secure the arm in position. A plurality of bores 56may be utilized to provide a plurality of positions for the arm 32.However, for most operating situations the optimum position for the arm32 is approximately 45 from the radius on which the outer spool 45 isdisposed.

The support arm 32 supports an inner spool shaft 36 which rotatablysupports the inner spool 37. The inner spool 37 has an enlarged diameterportion 38 which overlaps in a vertical plane the flange 23 of thecenter spool 21. The turntable aperture 27 surrounds, in closeproximity, the center spool 21 and the inner spool 37 below the enlargedportion 38. The turntable 25, therefore, rotates about a point which isdisplaced from the center line of the center shaft 12 and which is infact the center of the aperture 27.

Secured to the arm 32 is a ribbon guide 39 having a bottom correspondingwith a line which forms an angle 3 with the plane of the turntable. Themost efiicient angle for the bottom of the ribbon guide 39' to form withthe plane of the turntable is between 3 and 5 degrees. The

- purpose of the guide 39 is to hold the tape or ribbon on the turntable25 as the tape or ribbon first comes in contact with the inner spool 37during its travel to the center spool 21, i.e., to prevent the ribbon ortape from riding up on the spool 37. Some tapes or ribbons which may beused with the invention are very abrasive and can wear the bottom of theguide, therefore, a tip 41 of hardened material may be placed on thebottom of the guide 39 to prevent such wear. The tip 41 is mostadvantageously made of carbide.

An outer spool support member 42, most clearly shown in FIG. 5, issupported on the base plate 11 by the bolt 43. A shaft 44 is secured tothe support member 43 by a nut 40 and rotatably supports the outer spool45. The outer spool assembly is disposed at an acute angle with the baseplate, which angle may be defined by stating that the outer spoolrotates about an axis which is the hypotenuse of a triangle having asits sides a line in a plane parallel to the plane of the turntable and aline in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft 12. The spool 45receives the ribbon as it leaves the inner spool 37, and the ribbonguides 46, disposed on two sides of the spool 45, maintain the ribbon onthe spool as the ribbon approaches and departs the spool 45.

The disposition of the inner spool with respect to the center spool andouter spool shown in FIG. 1 is for the utilization of the invention whena coil of ribbon is being unwound from its center in a counterclockwisedirection. The invention may also be utilized to unreel a coil of ribbonfrom the center of the coil in a clockwise direction by merelyreadjusting the inner spool support arm 32 so that instead of beingdisposed approximately 45 degrees from the radius on which the outerspool is disposed in a clockwise direction, to a disposition which isapproximately 45 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the radiuson which the outer spool is disposed. Furthermore, the instant inventionmay be utilized to wind a spool of ribbon by feeding a tape or film ontothe center spool.

As is apparent from the foregoing description the present inventionprovides a unique ribbon supply device for supplying a ribbon from acenter of a coil which is simple in design and capable of delivering theribbon at a high rate of speed.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used herein isintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

v 1. A ribbon conveying apparatus for paying-out and rereeling a coiledendless ribbon comprising;

a support means,

a shaft means mounted on said support means,

a first spool means rotatably secured to said shaft means,

a second rotatable spool means mounted on said shaft means fordisposition along an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft means,

a turntable support means rotatably mounted on said shaft means,

a turntable means supported in rotatable relationship by said turntablesupport means,

said turntable means having an aperture therein which surrounds saidfirst spool means and said second spool means whereby the center ofrotation of said turntable means is displaced from the axis of saidshaft means, and

receiving means mounted beyond the circumference of said turntable meansfor guiding said ribbon.

2. In a ribbon supply reel assembly, the combination comprising;

a base plate member,

a support shaft mounted on said base plate member,

a horizontal disc rotatably mounted on said support shaft,

a center spool rotatably mounted on said support shaft,

an inner spool support arm mounted on said support shaft,

an inner spool shaft secured to said support arm in parallelrelationship to said support shaft,

an inner spool rotatably secured to said innerspool shaft,

a horizontal turntable rotatably mounted on said horizontal disc, and

said turntable having a circular aperture therein which aperturesurrounds said center spool and said inner spool whereby the center ofrotation of said turnable is displaced from the center or said supportshaft in a direction toward said inner spool.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein;

a ribbon guide is attached to said inner spool support arm for extensionalong said inner spool, and

said ribbon guide has a bottom edge which extends generally away fromsaid center spool and which is angularly disposed therealong in anupward direction.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein;

a tip of hard material is secured to the bottom edge of said ribbonguide.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein;

said bottom edge of said ribbon guide forms an angle of between 3 and 5degrees with the turntable.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein;

a material having a low coefficient of friction is attached to thecircumference of said aperture in said turntable for bearing againstsaid center spool and said inner spool.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein;

position defining means cooperating with said inner spool support armprovides two positions of said support arm whereby the assembly may beoperated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein;

said center spool has a radial circumferential flange disposed thereonin juxtaposition to said horizontal disc, and

said inner spool has an enlarged diameter portion disposed in spacedrelationship to said flange and overlapping said flange in a planeparallel to said support shaft.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein;

at least one outer spool support is attached to said base plate memberbeyond the circumference of said turntable, and

an outer spool is rotatably supported by said outer spool support.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein;

guide means is attached to said outer spool support for retaining ribbonon said outer spool.

11. A ribbon conveying apparatus comprising;

a base plate,

a support shaft mounted on said base plate,

a ring mounted in rotatable relationship on said support shaft injuxtaposition to said base plate,

a disc having an aperture therein secured to said ring along thecircumference of said aperture,

a center spool rotatably mounted on said support shaft,

said center spool having a circular extension parallel to said supportshaft and attached to the first end thereof for surrounding said ring,

a circumferential flange radially'extending from said center spool atthe end of said center spool adjacent said ring,

an inner spool support arm secured to said support shaft injuxtaposition to the second end of said center spool,

an inner spool shaft secured to said support arm in parallelrelationship to said support shaft,

an inner spool rotatably mounted on said inner spool shaft,

said inner spool having an enlarged diameter portion disposed injuxtaposition to said circumferential flange whereby said increaseddiameter portion overlaps said circumferential flange in a plane whichis parallel to said support shaft and said inner spool shaft,

a turntable disposed between said disc and said center spool,

a ribbon guide secured to said support arm and extending along saidinner spool for maintaining said ribbon on said turntable,

a retaining wall secured to the circumference of said turntable,

said turntable having a circular aperture in the center thereof, r

a ring of material having a low coeflicient of friction secured to thecircumference of said circular aperture,

said circular aperture surrounding said center spool and said innerspool whereby said circumferential flange on said center spool overlapssaid turntable and said increased diameter portion on said inner spooloverlaps said turntable,

means disposed between said disc and said turntable for supporting saidturntable in rotatable relationship on said disc,

an outer spool support member attached to said base plate,

an outer spool rotatably mounted on said outer spool support memberwhereby said outer spool rotates about an axis which coincides with thehypotenuse of a triangle having as its sides the axis of said supportshaft and a line in the plane of said base plate, and

guide means secured to said outer spool support member and extendingalong said outer spool for retaining ribbon on said outer spool.

12. A ribbon conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein;

a tip of hard material is secured to the bottom end of said ribbonguide. 13. A ribbon conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 12wherein;

said tip is made of carbide, and

said carbide tip has an edge facing said turntable which forms an anglewith said turntable in an upward direction leading generally away fromsaid center spool.

14. A ribbon conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein;

said angle is of a value between 3 and 5 degrees. 15. A ribbon conveyingapparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein;

position defining means cooperating with said inner spool support armprovides at least two positions whereby the apparatus may be operated ineither a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

16. A ribbon conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,751,192 3/1930Cowie 242-5518 2,363,627 11/1944 Schalie 24255.19 2,396,563 3/1946Fries.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

B. S. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A RIBBON CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR PAYING-OUT AND REREELING A COILED ENDLESS RIBBON COMPRISING; A SUPPORT MEANS, A SHAFT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, FIRST SPOOL MEANS ROTATABLY SECURED TO SAID SHAFT MEANS, A SECOND ROTATABLE SPOOL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT MEANS FOR DISPOSITION ALONG AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT MEANS, A TURNTABLE SUPPORT MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT MEANS, A TURNABLE MEANS SUPPORTED IN ROTATABLE RELATIONSHIP BY SAID TURNTABLE SUPPORT MEANS, SAID TURNTABLE MEANS HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN WHICH SURROUNDS SAID FIRST SPOOL MEANS AND SAID SECOND SPOOL MEANS WHEREBY THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF SAID TURNTABLE MEANS IN DISPLACED FROM THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT MEANS, AND RECEIVING MEANS MOUNTED BEYOND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID TURNTABLE MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID RIBBON. 